It was already midnight when Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang returned home. The lady hadn't gone to bed yet and asked them to go talk.

"What's wrong?"

"He passed away at 3:45 this morning. We have sent a steward to Taiyuan Prefecture to deliver a letter. It should arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Mrs. Wang has not been well since Wang Lang passed away, and Aunt Ten is not familiar with household affairs. Zhenxing is in charge of the overall situation there now. We have already reported the death to the Ministry of Rites, and asked the Imperial Observatory to choose a date. The body will be kept for 49 days, and the obituary will be sent out three days later. The mourning shed, mourning clothes, and memorial archway can all be prepared tonight. I have left Steward Zhao there to help."

Seeing that everything was arranged in an orderly manner, the lady nodded and told Eleventh Lady: "You should go to bed early! We still need to go there to help tomorrow."

The two men bowed and retreated.

Back in the house, Shiyi Niang told the maid to bring Xu Lingyi a cup of loquat paste, "The weather is too dry, my Lord, be careful not to get a sore throat."

Xu Lingyi took the teacup and took a sip, then said, "Tomorrow Yiqing and I will go to the Ministry of Rites to settle the matter of the child's inheritance as soon as possible. You should go to Chief Steward Bai in the morning to get two thousand taels of silver and bring it to Zhenxing. From what I heard from Zhenxing today, he doesn't even have enough money to buy mourning clothes."

Shiyi Niang agreed and waited for Xu Lingyi to rest. The next morning, she took the money and went to Wang's house with Xu Lingyi.

Luo Zhenxing stayed at Wang's house last night. Luo Zhensheng, Zhu Anping and Qi Niang had already arrived and were talking. When they saw the Xu couple, they all stood up. Luo Zhenxing even asked them, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Eat!" Several people greeted each other. Yu Yiqing, Qian Ming, Si Niang and Wu Niang all arrived. Knowing that Xu Lingyi and Yu Yiqing were going to the Ministry of Rites, Qian Ming said, "I'll go with them to run errands!" Zhu Anping heard this and said, "Then I'll stay and help my eldest brother!"

"Okay!" Luo Zhenxing also felt that the Wang family had no capable people, and the only one who could help was Manager Zhao.

Everyone acted separately.

Eleventh Lady fell behind a few steps, and when everyone left the flower hall, she handed the banknote to Luo Zhenxing: "Brother, use it first. We'll talk later if it's not enough!"

Luo Zhenxing thought about it and took it in his hand: "Qiniang also gave me two thousand taels of silver. I will record all this account, and when their uncle and aunt come, I can also settle the account."

It seems like he really has no money to spend!

Eleventh Lady nodded, and went to see Mrs. Wang with Fourth Lady, Fifth Lady, and Seventh Lady, and then went to Tenth Lady.

Wu Niang sighed, "...I just bought a three-story house in Sixiang Hutong a few days ago. I wanted to move you all in to liven up the place, but I didn't expect this to happen. I can only wait and see!"

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

A few days ago, I heard from Fourth Grandma Luo that Fifth Mother borrowed money from First Grandma Luo. I didn’t hear her say anything when Seventh Brother had his third birthday ceremony. How come she bought a house in just a few days?

She thought of the business that Fourth Grandma talked about last time.

It's a pity that the third-day bathing ceremony is for women, Qian Ming shouldn't be there. Otherwise, we could figure out whether he is in Yanjing...

Si Niang, however, remained calm and said with a faint smile: "I will definitely go and join in the fun when the time comes!"

Qi Niang was straightforward: "When did Fifth Sister buy the house? Why was there no news before?"

Wu Niang's lips twitched slightly, and she was about to say something, but Si Niang said in front of her: "Who is like you? You bought a house and caused a lot of trouble for three families and four families."

Qinnan pouted and stopped talking.

When she bought the house, the managers of the Xu and Yu families helped her look for a place.

"When are you planning to hold the housewarming party?" Fourth Mother drank with Seventh Mother, then asked Fifth Mother with a smile, "Is there anything missing at home? I dare not ask for big things, but I, your fourth sister, can still provide small things!" She bit the word "Fourth Sister".

Qi Niang originally wanted to ask Wu Niang what she needed, and then she would help her make up for it. But after hearing what Si Niang said, it was hard to open her mouth. She couldn't give a gift to her elder sister, could she? How could her elder sister save face?

Wu Niang originally wanted to ask Qi Niang for a seven-panel screen or a set of black lacquer furniture, but after hearing what Si Niang said, she had to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue. A trace of annoyance flashed across her brows, and she smiled and said, "I don't need anything. I know that Si's brother-in-law is a famous scholar today. When the time comes, let him write a few couplets for me? That's better than anything else."

Eleventh Lady understood everything and immediately said with a smile, "Only our Marquis is a rough man. I will give him a set of the four treasures of the study from Duobao Pavilion!"

Seeing that the things they both had were elegant but not expensive, Qi Niang said with a smile, "Then I'll give Zhang Liji's Drunkard Chair as a present!"

Eleventh Lady saw that Fourth Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled slightly and heard Wu Niang say with a smile: "Fourth sister and two younger sisters are too polite. I am afraid that I will not be able to celebrate my housewarming if I don't hold a party!"

As they talked, they went into Shi Niang's room.

Shi Niang was already wearing mourning clothes. Her face was so thin that only a pair of big eyes were left. They were swollen like peaches, obviously because she had been crying.

Everyone was a little surprised.

She nodded to everyone and asked Yinping to serve tea.

Si Niang greeted her on behalf of the sisters at home, and she answered one by one. Although her words were brief, her thoughts were clear. However, she did not look at Shiyi Niang or answer her questions, which made Shiyi Niang a little embarrassed. She simply stopped talking and let Si Niang and her answer.

After a while, Grandma Luo came.

"Please forgive me, aunties." She bowed as she entered the room. "I have been helping father and mother pack their things these days. We are scheduled to leave for Yuhang on the twelfth of next month."

Shi Niang was stunned when she heard this: "When was the decision made? How come I didn't know?" Her voice gradually became a little sharp.

Si Niang, Wu Niang, and Qi Niang remained silent. Si Niang and Qi Niang were from the second house and didn't know about this, but Wu Niang didn't want to cause trouble.

Grandma Luo felt a little uncomfortable when she saw Shi Niang questioning her in front of the sisters of the second house. Thinking that Shi Niang did not attend the third-day baptism ceremony of Master Luo Qi, she said calmly, "It was decided on the day of the third-day baptism ceremony of my seventh brother."

Shi Niang said nothing and became dazed.

She had always been a little weird, but no one was surprised and no one tried to comfort her. Si Niang and the others came forward to greet Grandma Luo and asked about the origin of Fourth Grandma Luo.

On the third day, several families sent three animals for sacrifice, and the uncle and aunt of the Wang family came. Wang Lin had been crying since she received the letter, and she was helped by others when she entered the house. However, Jiang Gui greeted Xu Lingyi first, and then went to burn incense in front of her father-in-law's spirit. Seeing that the biological father of Wang Lang's heir was always around, and the Wang family had no one to manage the funeral, they still entrusted the funeral to Luo Zhenxing and Zhu Anping. He went to the Ministry of Rites with Xu Lingyi and Yu Yiqing, and Qian Ming helped to run errands. Shiyi Niang and others went early every day and returned after dark. After the first seven days, they finally passed the Taoist ceremony, and everyone calmed down and settled the accounts.

The funeral gift of 1,000 taels from the Ministry of Rites and the accompanying gifts from the guests were barely enough to cover the expenses, not to mention the money to pay back the Xu and Zhu families. Fortunately, Zhu Anping was generous, and this result was within Xu Lingyi's expectations. He did not expect the money to be returned, so no one cared about it. Jiang Gui felt very sorry and promised to pay the money back. Xu Lingyi and Zhu Anping both refused. Later, Jiang Gui still brought 2,000 taels of silver, but that is another story.

Shiyi Niang and Xu Lingyi both rested well at home for a day, waiting for news from the Ministry of Rites. Grandma Luo came over and said, "...Shiyi Niang wants to invite you to come back to Gongxian Hutong for a gathering."

"At this time?" Eleventh Lady was surprised. "The Duke's seventh day of death has just passed!"

Grandma Luo nodded: "That's why we arranged to meet in Gongxian Hutong. She said that everyone helped, and she wanted to bring the child over to kowtow to the uncles and aunts. Besides, Dad and Mom are both going back to Yuhang, so let the child come and recognize his grandparents."

Ever since Wang Chengzu was adopted by Wang Lang, the child has never been to Gongxian Hutong or to the Xu family.

Eleventh Lady just thought that Tenth Lady's behavior was very strange.

"Did you invite me too?"

"Yes!" Grandma Luo also knew that Shi Niang had a grudge against Shiyi Niang. "I asked her specifically, and she said that she would like to invite you two to go together. She also said that she is most grateful to the Marquis. Without the Marquis, let alone inheriting the title, I'm afraid she would have no place to settle down. Others can choose not to go, but you can't."

This is really Shi Niang's tone. Even if she invites guests, she will offend people!

At this point, Shiyi Niang agreed with a smile. After Grandma Luo left, she showed the invitation to Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi did not doubt it: "The Duke's death is a funeral after all. Since she wants to invite guests, it is better to go to Gongxian Hutong."

Maybe I'm just overthinking it!

Eleventh Lady comforted herself. The next day, she asked Amber to prepare eight-colored gift boxes and a few pieces of forging, and went to Gongxian Hutong with Xu Lingyi.

Yu Yiqing, Qian Ming, Zhu Anping and Luo Zhenda, the third master of the Luo family, had all arrived and were talking in the flower hall next to the back seat. After everyone exchanged greetings, Luo Zhenda accompanied Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang to pay their respects to the eldest master and the eldest mistress.

Si Niang, Wu Niang, Qi Niang, Luo San Niang, and Luo Si Niang were sitting around the round table in the middle of the main hall, talking. When they saw the Xu couple come in, they all stood up. Wu Niang laughed and said, "That's great. We are the main masters, but the host is nowhere to be seen."

Only then did Eleventh Lady realize that Tenth Lady had not arrived yet.

She smiled and called out "Fifth Sister", bowed to everyone, and was about to go into the inner room to greet the eldest wife when a little maid came in and announced, "Tenth Aunt is here!"

Everyone looked towards the door.

Shi Niang, wearing a dark silk jacket with long sleeves, walked in slowly, holding the hand of a seven-year-old boy.

She had her hair combed into a high bun, her eyes were focused, her waist was straight, her head was slightly raised, and she looked dignified and solemn.

"Tenth Aunt!" Grandma Luo immediately greeted her with a smile.

Shi Niang nodded slightly and greeted everyone. Her voice was a little weak, and she seemed to lack energy, but she was measured and generous, introducing the child to everyone: "This is Chengzu."

Wang Chengzu has white teeth, red lips, a handsome appearance, and a pair of very lively eyes. It is obvious that he is a smart child.

He saluted respectfully to everyone, and was even more cautious when he came in front of Xu Lingyi. He was very lively in front of Shiyi Niang, tilting his head and asking her: "Are you my Shiyi Aunt?"

Eleventh Lady's heart was slightly moved, but she did not show it. She nodded seriously without saying much.

There was disappointment in Wang Chengzu's eyes.

Eleventh Lady looked at this and sighed secretly in her heart.

I’m afraid this child is not an easy person to deal with.

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Pink tickets, pink tickets...please update more and ask for red envelopes!

O(∩_∩)O~